Introduction
The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus was launched in March 2026 at $299 MSRP, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K was launched in October 2024 at $589 MSRP, but do they perform the identical? In what could be a surprising and positive end result, the newly released 24-core Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus might actually perform as fast as, and even faster than, Intel’s previously released top-end 24-core CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.
The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is an element of the Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus desktop CPU series for socket LGA1851 motherboards, which is the present generation of motherboard support from Intel. Being based on the Intel Core Ultra 200S series, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus uses the identical “Arrow Lake” architecture, and is taken into account a “refresh” CPU, expanding the series. You may read our official announcement article with all of the juicy details here.
In today’s CPU performance review, we’re going to directly benchmark the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus versus the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in each synthetic benchmarks and 14 games, with among the most up-to-date game releases including Crimson Desert and Resident Evil Requiem. The goal is to search out out where the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus matches compared to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in performance, in each synthetics and games, multi-threading, and single-threading. Make sure that to also try our: Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU Review and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245K CPU Review.
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus & Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
| Specs | Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus | Intel Core Ultra 9 285K |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cores | 24 | 24 |
| Performance Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Efficient Cores | 16 | 16 |
| Total Threads | 24 | 24 |
| Max Turbo Frequency | 5.5GHz | 5.7GHz |
| Intel Thermal Velocity Boost Frequency | N/A | 5.7GHz |
| Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 | 5.5GHz | 5.6GHz |
| Performance Core Max Turbo Frequency | 5.4GHz | 5.5GHz |
| Effecient Core Max Turbo Frequency | 4.7GHz | 4.6GHz |
| Performance Core Base Frequency | 3.7GHz | 3.7GHz |
| Efficient Core Max Turbo Frequency | 3.2GHz | 3.2GHz |
| Cache | 36MB | 36MB |
| Base Power | 125W | 125W |
| Turbo Power | 250W | 250W |
| MSRP | $299 | $589 |
There are some core frequency differences between the 2 CPUs, and naturally, internal die-to-die frequency differences as well. First, let’s take a look at the P Core, E Core, and turbo boost clocks. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has a Max Turbo Frequency of 5.7GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a Max Turbo Frequency of a rather lower 5.5GHz. That is as a result of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K having support for Intel Thermal Velocity Boost Frequency, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus doesn’t. Otherwise, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has an Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency of as much as 5.6GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has an Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency of as much as 5.5GHz, so a 100MHz difference.
For the P Cores, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has a Max Turbo P-Core Frequency of 5.5GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a Max Turbo P-Core Frequency of 5.4GHz, again a 100MHz difference. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K has a Max Turbo E-Core Frequency of 4.6GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a Max Turbo E-Core Frequency of 4.7GHz, so the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is definitely 100MHz faster on E-Cores.
Because each CPUs are coping with the identical core configuration, the cache sizes are also the identical. The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K have 36MB of the L3 Intel Smart Cache, and the L2 Cache size is 40MB. Interestingly, the Processor Base Power and Maximum Turbo Power are also similar at 125W Base Power and 250W Turbo Power. Due to this fact, when all is claimed and done, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K can boost barely higher in frequency, however the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has overall faster E-Cores for multi-threaded applications.
In fact, the most important difference between the 2 CPUs goes to be the inner die-to-die frequencies, of which the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus receives major upgrades. On Intel CPUs, there are three other clock domains to pay attention to: the Ring/LLC Clock, the D2D Clock, and the NGU Clock, all of those are UP on the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.
The Ring/LLC Clock runs at 4GHz on the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K runs at 3.8GHz, so 200MHz higher. The D2D Clock on the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus runs at 3GHz, while on the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K it runs at just 2.1GHz, so a 900MHz upgrade. The NGU Clock also gets an upgrade as much as 3GHz on the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. Due to this fact, aside from the Turbo Boost clock on the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has a leg up on frequency.
Intel Application Optimization Tool
Along with these upgrades, Intel is continuous on the software front to supply optimization in games and applications. By means of the Intel Application Optimization Tool, Intel has a brand new ability called the Intel Binary Optimization Tool. This sits atop APO Optimations, and will be toggled manually off or on per-game supported. Now, once we set it up, we did find that while APO Optimization is enabled by default, the Intel Binary Optimization Tool toggles were DISABLED by default. Due to this fact, you need to manually enable them should you want to experience the performance advantages in the sport supports.
On our Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, you may see the list of supported games which are shown within the utility, which now we have turned ON for all testing today. Though out of all of the games on the list, we’re only using 2 games on the list there that support Intel Binary Optimization Tool: Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy. In actual fact, there aren’t any other games on this list that we’re using today; subsequently, aside from the 2 games aforementioned, APO and Intel Binary Optimization Tool aren’t really doing loads for our choice of 14 games. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K supports the games shown with the APO Optimization, but not the Intel Binary Optimization.
CPU Installation
Kingston Fury Renegade 7600MT/s
